Ondo govt, varsity unions resolve wage dispute as Aiyedatiwa approves FGN-ASUU structure
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government and tertiary institution-based unions in the state have reached an agreement to resolve the lingering wage dispute arising from the implementation of the Federal Government and university unions’ salary structure and allowances.
The development is expected to pave the way for the resolution of the industrial action in the state-owned universities, following a series of meetings between the government and the unions.
The latest development is contained in a statement issued by Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
The meetings, led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, involved the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
The government and the unions agreed to a comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters affecting workers in the state-owned universities.
As part of the resolutions, Governor Aiyedatiwa approved the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) for academic staff of Ondo State-owned universities.
The implementation, according to the agreement, will take into consideration the peculiarities of the state, while ensuring that academic staff in the state’s universities benefit from the approved wage structure.
Aiyedatiwa, who described education as a cardinal priority of his administration, said his government remained committed to the welfare of workers and the sustenance of industrial harmony across the state’s tertiary institutions.
The governor said: “Our administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, especially in the education sector, because we understand that a motivated workforce is key to academic excellence.
“We have approved the FGN-ASUU pact for our universities because we want our institutions to compete favourably and our staff to be at par with their counterparts elsewhere.”
Aiyedatiwa further assured the unions that the government would continue to engage relevant stakeholders in addressing issues affecting the sector, with a view to ensuring that the state’s tertiary institutions remain centres of academic excellence.
He also expressed the commitment of his administration to reducing disruptions to academic activities arising from unresolved labour-related issues.
Reacting to the development, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter of ASUU commended the governor for what it described as his listening disposition and approval of the FGN-ASUU agreement for the state-owned universities.
The union described the approval as a bold step that would boost the morale of academic and other university workers.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its Secretary, Dr. Y.K. Kazeem, the union said the intervention demonstrated Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to the welfare of workers.
According to the union, the governor’s action “conveys a clear message that his administration is workers-friendly.”
The unions also pledged to reciprocate the government’s gesture by working towards ensuring academic stability, improved productivity and uninterrupted activities in the state-owned universities.
The agreement is expected to bring relief to workers and students affected by the wage dispute, while providing a framework for continued dialogue between the government and the university unions.
